Didn't find what you need? Because both German Pointers and Labrador Retrievers were bred to be family dogs, the crossbred offspring fits in perfect in just about every family, especially families with multiple members. Because German Pointers and Labrador Retrievers are both common dogs, they are much easier to find than other designer dogs. One area of grooming you especially need to watch out for is their ears. We recommend getting a dog food variety that is specific for medium-sized dogs. Get FREEDog Food Recall Alerts exclusive content, insider pricing, care guides, sale alerts & moreSign up for our Doggie Club! This article gives you a complete guide to all things German Shorthaired Labs. While you are training this dog, we recommend trying agility or obedience training. Luckily, you can fight obesity with exercise and the right diet. Because of this double coat, the dog sheds quite a bit and requires extra grooming. Although many German Shorthaired Labs never experience serious conditions, almost all will get an ear infection during their lives. This training requires a lot of physical and mental activity. Despite its larger frame, the dog is incredibly gentle and loves to be around children. German Shorthaired Labs are a great breed for active families who want a fun and loving dog. This dog does surprisingly well with other animals despite its hunting background. This dog is so gentle, in fact, that this is a good breed for therapy work. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! Similarly, Labrador Retrievers were primarily bred by Canadian fishermen to retrieve lines. If you are looking for a big dog to fit in with your active family, the German Shorthaired Lab may be the dog for you. Even though both German Pointers and Labrador Retrievers were bred as work dogs, they were also bred to be companions that the hunters and fishers could take home with them. Agility and obedience training are great options for this dog. You can even use a shedding tool for removing loose fur during its shedding periods. The dog is super playful and loving, meaning it should get along with most other dogs just fine. If you cannot deliver, get a different breed. Use the search! Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? Because of this trait, German Shorthaired Labs are water repellent as well. Thats because Labrador Retrievers are incredibly food driven. Energy: Trainability: Health: Lifespan: Sociability: Because this is a special dog breed, German Shorthaired Labs are a bit more expensive than your everyday pup, but they are more affordable than many other designer breeds. Grooming German Shorthaired Labs is a bit of a task as well. On the one hand, this breed is super intelligent and clever since it was bred to perform many tasks. A post shared by Weston Lee (@_germanshepherdadventures_). Supervision can ensure the child is not doing anything that the dog would perceive as annoying or aggressive. Featured Image Credit: Sheryl Lynch, Shutterstock. There is very little difference between male and female German Shorthaired Labs. 1. The exact price may depend on the breeder and where you live. Search our database of over 8507 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. German Shorthaired Labs have a moderate to high risk of becoming overweight. Its important to stick to a consistent and healthy diet to ensure the dog is of a healthy weight. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband in New Zealand. Like Labrador Retrievers, these dogs have a double layered coat, with the undercoat repelling water. Negative reinforcement can cause the dog to shy away from tasks if they think they may get in trouble for doing it incorrectly. Make sure that it has a healthy proportion of protein, fat, and carbs. That is why it is a great idea to include it in a family with many members so that theres a better chance someone is home to be with the dog. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Nicole is the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese cat and Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway. Things to Know When Owning a German Shorthaired Lab: Your subscription could not be saved. German Shorthaired Labs are an incredibly healthy breed. Thats because both of the parent breeds were hunting and working dogs. Obesity is the most common serious condition, and it can lead to other serious conditions such as joint dysplasia or cancer. These trainings force the dog to be highly receptive to your demands, but they will also exert a lot of energy at the same time, helping to meet this dogs high exercise requirements. Learn more. Despite the hunting roots, the dogs are highly lovable. Since this dog has such intense exercise requirements, it is not suited for apartment living. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. In comparison to some other designer dogs, you wont have as much to worry about in terms of health. Whether you have teenagers or young children, the German Shorthaired Lab will fit in fine. Because of this dogs athletic and playful nature, this isnt the right breed for everyone. A post shared by Rusty and Penny (@rusty.penny). Of course, we always recommend supervising playtime between the dog and young children. The Pointer in these dogs may be a bit more prone to chase cats and other small mammals, but Labrador Retrievers rarely have this drive. Just about any active family would love to have this dog in their home. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe. While supervising playtime, teach your child how to respectfully play with dogs. Even though its a bit disappointing that you cant get this dog, its always best to get a dog that you know you can care for perfectly. As a result, German Shorthaired Labs can fit along with most cats and other small mammals with early socialization. When most people hear the word designer, they assume the dog is very attractive and mainly selected for aesthetic purposes. One area where German Shorthaired Labs need a lot of maintenance is in their activity exercise. Because of its parent breeds, this variety is highly intelligent and active while still being mans best friend. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Not to mention, the dog is highly intelligent, meaning that it needs mental stimulation as well as physical. Children also like this dog because it is really playful at the same time. Proper exercise, diet, and grooming eliminates most health conditions. Active families who want a loving, intelligent, and playful dog; homes with a fenced yard, Loving, Intelligent, People-Pleaser, Athletic. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. As people-pleasers, positive reinforcement is the best training method. Whenever you breed these two dogs together, you get the German Shorthaired Lab, which is lesser known than the two parent breeds, but it is still highly athletic, intelligent, and loving. Just to put in perspective how much exercise this dog needs a day, it requires about 90 minutes of activity every single day and 12 miles worth of walks every week. German Shorthaired Lab Puppies Before You Buy. This coat allowed them to pull fishing lines for the Canadian fishers, even in colder temperatures. As a result, these breeds are incredible family animals that are highly lovable and fun for everyone, making the German Shorthaired Lab a lovable pooch too. You will also need to pay an additional $500 minimum for all other regular puppy requirements, such as a collar, leash, and licensure. One thing that Labrador Retrievers are known for is their water repellent coat. The same cannot be said for German Shorthaired Labs. You want most of the calories to come from protein and fat instead of carbs. These are classic people-pleasing dogs, and they will try their best to listen. Because both parents were bred for working purposes, the breed as a whole has a lot of energy. The females can be smaller, but both genders are considered medium sized. This dog is prone to ear infections because of its floppy ears and affinity for water. Because of the hunting roots in this dog, German Shorthaired Labs are very athletic, agile, and able to perform a number of high energy and mentally taxing tasks. 8 Potential Methods, 13 Types of Angelfish for Freshwater Aquariums (With Pictures), Why Chocolate Is Toxic To Dogs (Vet Answer). If youre willing to keep up with this dogs exercise and grooming demands, the dog will fit into your family perfectly. You may need to trim these dogs nails, but some dogs are active enough that the nails wear down on their own. German Shorthaired Labs are known to get separation anxiety if they are kept away from their family members for too long. Despite its fashionable classification, German Shorthaired Labs have hunting roots. The dog also likes tasks that require retrieving such as fetch or a game of hide and seek. It does not have any tendencies to be overly aggressive or territorial against other canines. 9 DIY Reptile Enclosures You Can Build Today, What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing? Because German Shorthaired Labs are so intelligent and loyal to their owners, they are incredibly easy to train. The males may be more playful, but males and females alike tend to be very loving, affectionate, fun, and intelligent. German Pointers and Labrador Retrievers are two of the most popular medium-sized dog breeds. They will act hungry all times of the day and beg for food. When it comes to dogs, you wont have any issue with this breed. Always dry the ears after the dog is finished swimming and clean out the ears as needed. You should select a different breed if you live in an apartment or cannot keep up with this dogs intense exercise requirements. Still, there are some things you need to know before deciding to welcome a German Shorthaired Lab into your home. Whats the Price of German Shorthaired Lab Puppies? Its a designer dog with hunting roots. Please try again. A post shared by (@scouts_escapades). To find out if this dog breed is right for you, keep reading. This fact goes back to their parent breed roots as well. German Shorthaired Labs require much less maintenance than other dogs. We recommend brushing the dog once a day to minimize shedding. On the other hand, the dog is still very lovable and suitable to be around other people, children, and dogs. Ear infections are highly common in these dogs and require care pretty frequently. Luckily, you dont need to bathe this dog very often unless it gets muddy or finds a way to dirty itself up. Certain dog breeds that were bred for hunting tend to be slightly aggressive and not suitable to be around other animals or people. Although German Shorthaired Labs are really cute and desirable for their appearance, they are more than just attractive. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. For a German Shorthaired Lab, you can expect to pay $500 to $1500 for a puppy. German Pointers were specifically bred to be athletic and responsive for hunting purposes. German Shorthaired Labs are one of the best breeds in terms of temperament and intelligence. 3 Little-Known Facts About German Shorthaired Labs, Temperament & Intelligence of the German Shorthaired Lab. 2. German Shorthaired Labs make one of the best family dogs.